Ontario is a city in San Bernardino, California. San Bernardino is part of the western part of the Inland Empire, which encompasses many of the towns and cities in the southern California area near Los Angeles. While the city of Ontario itself has only about 150,000 people, the metropolitan area that encompasses Riverside County and San Bernardino County has over four million people.
Ontario sits just 35 miles east of Los Angeles, which means the area has a lot of people and it can be a bit expensive. Living in Ontario costs a little less than the average in California, but significantly exceeds the national average cost of living. Housing in Ontario definitely costs more than the national average. When you live in an area that has great weather and is close to the beach, you can expect to have to pay a bit extra to live there. You can find cheap housing in certain parts of the city, but the best places in Ontario cost a bit more.
There is a ton to do in Ontario and the surrounding area. Ontario Mills is a huge shopping mall that is always packed with people. There are also parks and amusement parks in the area. Many people head east into Los Angeles and toward the beach on the weekends for even more fun activities. One of the biggest draws of living here is the great weather. Winter temperatures are usually in the 60's and summers get into the 90's.
Ontario International Airport employs the most people in the city. The Sam's Club and Target distribution centers also employ lots of people. However, it is very common for people who live in Ontario to commute to Los Angeles or other nearby cities for work. Many people make the drive every day, which sometimes leaves the freeways quite congested. There is a bus service in the city, but it is not incredibly extensive. Most people drive so the best places to live in Ontario are the lower-trafficked areas.
If you have been thinking about relocating to here, use AreaVibes to find the best places to live in Ontario. You can look at our ratings for cities all across the United States to see how Ontario ranks. You can also adjust your search criteria to only the things that matter to you, like housing costs, employment opportunities, local amenities, or crime rates, for example. It can be hard to find the best places in Ontario, but AreaVibes offers you everything you need to know to make an informed decision.